Without a Path, One Does Not Reach the Destination
O heedless soul seeking truth! Know that merely knowing one’s destination is not enough to reach it. It is essential to embark on a challenging and disciplined path (a Sufi order or tarika). Many people today mistakenly believe they can attain closeness to God without sacrificing worldly comforts or enduring trials. However, the greatest truth emphasized in the work Makamat-i Shah-i Nakshibend is that the goal can only be reached through continuous striving – with a tarika. A tarika is a spiritual journey (seyr u suluk) within the boundaries of Sharia, purifying the heart from worldly impurities and progressing towards God. To seek to sail into the ocean of Sufism without boarding the ship of Sharia only prepares one for their own destruction.
The Subtle Bridge Spanning From Outer to Inner
As Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) repeatedly warns, reaching the inner essence (batin) of religion is impossible without living its outward observances (zahir). The work describing the exalted station of Shah-i Nakshibend (may Allah be pleased with him) explains that Sharia is not merely a shell but is itself the path to truth. To be a follower of a tarika does not mean exemption from the rulings of Sharia; rather, it means observing those rulings with even greater meticulousness, sincerity, and love than the average person. It means performing prayers, fasting, or remembrance (dhikr) not only with the body but also with the deepest recesses of the heart, with the awareness of being in God’s presence (the station of ihsan). This awareness is itself that luminous bridge spanning from outer to inner.
Following the Unwavering Footsteps of the Sunnah
The most crucial touchstone of a true tarika is unwavering adherence to the Sunnah (the Prophet’s example) of our Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The foundation of the Nakshibendi path is built upon not deviating from the Sunnah by even the smallest measure. Makamat-i Shah-i Nakshibend shows us that if a path contains an action contrary to the Sunnah, a fabricated ritual, or a behavior opposed to Sharia, then that path leads not to the Most Merciful but to Satan. Those who abandon the Sunnah in pursuit of spiritual experiences and miracles are mere playthings of Satan. True miracles are not about flying through the air or walking on water; they are about remaining upright, living a life within the framework of the Quran and Sunnah.
The Cost and Trials of Reaching Truth
O traveler! This path requires subjugating one’s desires, breaking down pride, and uprooting everything worldly from the heart. A tarika is a training ground for renouncing ego (enaniyet) and saying “He” (Hu – referring to God). The trials endured on this path—sleepless nights, tears shed, and the blows of remembrance striking the heart—are meant to tame the wildness within the soul. A servant illuminated by the light of Sharia and disciplined by the tarika ultimately attains the exalted station of “Truth” (Haqiqat), where duality ends, the servant realizes their own mortality, and finds tranquility in the boundless existence of their Creator.